The Centurion’s Faith
Luke 7:8 “For I also am a man set under authority, having under me soldiers, and I say unto one, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it.”
There were very few times the Lord dealt with the Gentiles during His ministry on earth,……but in this instance, He is very pleased with this Centurion’s faith!
Luke 7:9 “When Jesus heard these things, He marveled at him, and turned Him about, and said unto the people that followed Him,
I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel.”
So let us consider this Centurion’s faith.
First his faith sought out Jesus.
The Centurion had a servant, “who was dear unto him”, who was sick. He wanted him well…..and having heard of Jesus, Who had healed many….this Centurion asked the elders of the city to ask Jesus to “come and heal my servant”.
Then, the Centurion’s faith led him to see,….that Jesus did not need to “come and heal” him…..
….Jesus had but to say in a Word, and it would be done.
But why did he come to this conclusion….surely he knew Jesus was coming to his house to do as he asked…..
….why then, did he change the request to: “but say in a word, and my servant will be healed”?
Was it a challenge….testing if Jesus could heal?
No, for that would not be faith….but trial.
When faith really gets into our hearts….it does two things. It shows us God, His Might and Wisdom…..
….and it shows us….us, in our meanness and lack.
Faith had open the eyes of the Centurion to Christ Jesus as God’s Son….and to himself as “unworthy”…..
…..this alone is amazing faith….for it takes us out of ourselves….and anchors our expectation in God.
But notice the message he sends to Jesus: “…but say in a word,…”
A word….not prayer, sentence, words…..but “a word”.
His faith had come by hearing of Jesus (Romans 10:17).
Then it had shown him Who Jesus was…..which had humbled him. (James 4:10)
Then it had anchored his heart in belief in His Authoritative Word….and so he asks for “a word”.
And he showed Jesus by an example that he understood and believed His authority to speak that Word.
“I am a man under authority…..and I say, “Go…and they go”. I say, “Come, and they come”. I say, “Do this and they do it”.
I understand about the word of authority……my authority is from Rome….because I am under the authority of the Empire.
I understand that Your Word will be done……because You have Authority from God, Your Father.
Speak a Word, and it will be done.”
You will notice that this Centurion did not say….”of Authority”….or “in Authority”…..but “under Authority”.
“For I also am a man set under authority…”
This is a faith that is now set firmly on the Rock…..for this Centurion knew that the Man Christ Jesus spoke for God….even as he spoke for Rome.
And this man’s faith was honored….
……as he honored the Lord Jesus before the elders of the city…..his own servants….and ultimately the crowd that followed the Lord.
The servant was “whole”…..completely healed.
Luke 7:10 “And they that were sent, returning to the house, found the servant whole that had been sick.”
What of our faith?
Surely, as we have heard of Christ Jesus, and have believed in Him….we have faith.
But how far have we yielded to this faith?
Have we let this faith show us God…..and ourselves, and been humbled?
James 4:6 “But He giveth more grace. Wherefore He saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.”
Are we founded on Christ…..and His Word…..for us? (Matthew 7:24-25)
At the Centurion’s faith….Jesus “marveled”…..which means in the Greek….He admired it.
Jesus had come to Israel as their Messiah……telling that the kingdom of God has come…
…..they loved His miracles and provision…..and His parables….they loved hearing Him….
…..but faith had not been grasped by most of them….and Jesus Christ had not been honored by them.
“…I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel.”
But the Centurion’s faith was received into the heart….and the results were “amazing”!
Let us, who have faith, yield to the many things it brings to us…..and honor our Lord with it.
Romans 5:2-5 “By Whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand,
and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
And not only so, but we glory in tribulations (trials) also;
Knowing that tribulations worketh patience;
And patience, experience;
And experience, hope:
And hope maketh not ashamed;
Because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts, by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.”
Faith gives us all these things…let us have them and use them.
Preaching, Teaching, and Notes 